Abstract

Transmitted light photography has been used to record papers concealed within an eighteenth century coverlet. The coverlet, which is made from fabric blocks pieced over paper templates, still has the papers inside it. Glimpses of exposed papers through damaged fabrics showed that they have manuscript and printed text on them. They provide a rare source that could yield information about the makers, the people who owned it or for whom the coverlet was made. The aim of this research has been to reveal and document this hidden layer.